MovieChat Forums > Beat Street (1984) Discussion > I grew up in Patterson Projects in the S...

I grew up in Patterson Projects in the South Bronx and auditioned....


I remember auditioning for the movie, they handed out tshirts, I really wish I could find it. Anyhow I met a young Harry Belafonte at this time as well. 1983 or so it was filmed and I remember all the crews coming out and killing it! We sucked but at least we made a showing. We were called the Patterson Chillout Crew!!!

Anyhow, our crew was happy that Lee got the part for the younger brother. We were very excited for him and that a bronx local got it, he grew up in Mitchell Projects. They filmed alot of parts in the South Bronx which I was happy about.

I also remember how they wanted to film the break dancers and the dancing scenes. I wish I would have met Rae Dawn Chong, woo she was a hottie! The Bronx was in disarray with the crack epidemic and crime skyrocketing. All we had was hip hop and it helped the community in many ways. A side that many did not get to see.

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I was 10 years old when this movie was released, but being from Long Island I always had this attachment to many movies that featured anywhere in the city.

It's so awesome that you had the opportunity to audition...what an experience that must have been. And yes, Rae Dawn is a beautiful woman. I'm now watching this with my 7 year old, who LOVES Old Skool (she looked up when Doug E Fresh was beat boxing) and I told her, "This is hip hop."

A pair of kicks, a boombox, and friends. A hot summer city street...history.

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